Paraparesis as initial manifestation of a Prototheca zopfii infection in a dog

Abstract

A case of protothecosis causing non-ambulatory paraparesis in a dog without clinical evidence of disseminated infection is described. A five-year-old female Labrador retriever was referred with a 10-day history of progressive non-ambulatory paraparesis and lumbar pain as the only physical and neurological abnormalities. Lumbar myelography revealed severe extradural spinal cord compression extending from L4 to L7 vertebrae, and a right hemilaminectomy was performed. Surgical findings included an adherent whitish hard ill-defined mass. Cytology and biopsy results disclosed the presence of algae enclosed in a matrix of chronic inflammatory infiltrate. Culture confirmed the presence of Prototheca species. Neurological improvement occurred within a month, and the dog received antifungal treatment without evidence of clinical disseminated disease for 6 months, but died after a generalised tonic-clonic seizure. Post-mortem examination revealed multiple foci of inflammatory granulomatous infiltrate and algae-like structures in the brain, lumbar intumescence and cauda equina. Prototheca zopfii was identified using molecular biology methods.

Cutaneous Disease as Sole Clinical Manifestation of Protothecosis in a Boxer Dog

“…Although ulcerative colitis [ 4 ], ocular disease that may lead to sudden blindness [ 5 , 6 ], and granulomatous encephalomyelitis [ 7 ] may occur as single clinical entities or in various combinations [ 8 , 9 ], the disseminated form of the disease is by far the most common in the dog [ 3 , 10 , 11 ].…”

Well-known surface and extracellular antigens of pathogenic microorganisms among the immunodominant proteins of the infectious microalgae Prototheca zopfii

“…The outcome of an infection is usually fatal (Stenner et al, 2007 ). As in cattle, most frequently P. zopfii GT2 is isolated from canine protothecosis (Font et al, 2014 ).…”

Prototheca wickerhamii in a dog with cutaneous, ocular and systemic manifestations and treatment with terbinafine

“…In dogs, disease is usually disseminated and most commonly associated with Prototheca zopfii (Pressler and others 2005, Stenner and others 2007, Lane and others 2012, Vince and others 2014). Common symptoms include gastrointestinal signs referable to the large bowel, neurological impairment and ocular disease (Stenner and others 2007, Lane and others 2012, Font and others 2014, Vince and others 2014, Shank and others 2015). Cutaneous lesions are less frequent and when present may be the only symptom.…”